Thompson's surgeonfish (Acanthurus thompsoni)

Scientific name: Acanthurus thompsoni Fowler, 1923

The Thompson's surgeonfish (Acanthurus thompsoni) is a brackish-water fish of the family Acanthuridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 24–27°C (75–81°F).

Thompson's surgeonfish care at a glance

Temperature: 24–27°C (75–81°F)

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23-26; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 23 - 26. Body uniformly brown to dark brown; caudal fin pale in color (snow white in live fishes). Small, dark spot below and adjacent to axil of pectoral fin. Anterior gill rakers 15-18; posterior 14-16. Snout length 7.9 to 8.2 times in SL. Least depth of caudal peduncle 2.2 to 2.5 times in head length (Ref 9808).

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Acanthurus thompsoni
Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 27.0
Depth range: 4–119 m (13–390 ft)
Environment: Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 4 - 119 m, usually 5 - 70 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Indo-Pacific: East Africa, including the Mascarene Islands to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Rapa (Austral Islands). The Indian Ocean population is without the white caudal fin.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)